With only one minute and 49 seconds left in the final game between Sweden and Canada at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, the Canadians were leading 2-1. Everyone watching the game in the stadium and on television was sure the Canadian would win-everyone except defenseman Magnus Svensson, wearing the yellow and blue jersey of Sweden, who tied the score with a powerful shot from the blue line and added his name to the list of Olympic gold medalists who played hockey for Sweden. Sweden was even luckier in the shootout that followed, with Svensson scoring on a penalty shot.

Svensson played at the top of his game during his entire hockey career - a fearless, tough performer who played by the rules. A defenseman who loved the feel of scoring a goal, the 19-year-old rookie began his career as a forward with Leksand in 1982. In a game against Bjorloven on October 3, 1983, he scored his first goal in Sweden's national Elite Series. A year later, on December 11, 1984, in an exhibition game against Norway in Oslo, Svensson made his debut with Sweden and scored his first goal at the international level. However, he had to wait another three years to make his first appearance in a World Championship, in Vienna in 1987. He played only two games but shared the gold won by Sweden after a 25-year hiatus.

The 1990 World Championship in Switzerland was memorable for "Sigge," as he was nicknamed by fans. The defenseman scored his first goal in a World Championship in the game against Norway on April 17 in Fribourg and played out the tournament as a forward, a position he hadn't filled in some time. Sweden came in second, and Svensson was invited to play for Switzerland's Lugano, where he spent a year before returning to Leksand. Then came the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer and Svensson's famous goal. Lady luck smiled on Svensson once again in 1994. At the World Championship in Italy, Sweden won the bronze and, with eight goals to his credit, Svensson was named best defenseman of the tournament.

Svensson however could not translate his international prowess into NHL success. He managed only sporadic duty with the Florida Panthers during the mid 1990s.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1980-81

Tranas AIF

Sweden-2

16

0

1

1

6

1981-1983

Tranas AIF

Sweden-3

1983-84

Leksands IF

Sweden

35

3

8

11

20

1984-85

Leksands IF

Sweden

35

8

7

15

22

1985-86

Leksands IF

Sweden

36

6

9

15

62

1986-87

Leksands IF

Sweden

33

8

16

24

42

1986-87

Sweden

WEC-A

2

0

0

0

4

1987-88

Leksands IF

Sweden

40

12

11

23

20

3

0

0

0

8

1988-89

Leksands IF

Sweden

39

15

22

37

40

9

3

5

8

8

1989-90

Leksands IF

Sweden

26

11

12

23

60

1

0

0

0

0

1989-90

Sweden

WEC-A

10

2

1

3

8

1990-91

HC Lugano

Swiss

33

16

20

36

74

11

2

3

5

1991-92

Leksands IF

Sweden

22

4

10

14

32

1991-92

Leksands IF

Sweden-Q

18

8

8

16

28

11

7

4

11

22

1992-93

Leksands IF

Sweden

37

10

17

27

36

2

0

2

2

0

1993-94

Leksands IF

Sweden

39

13

16

29

22

4

3

1

4

0

1993-94

Sweden

Olympics

7

4

1

5

6

1993-94

Sweden

WC-A

8

8

1

9

8

1994-95

HC Davos

Swiss

35

8

25

33

46

5

2

2

4

8

1994-95

Florida Panthers

NHL

19

2

5

7

10

+5

1995-96

Florida Panthers

NHL

27

2

9

11

21

-1

1996-97

Leksands IF

Sweden

45

8

17

25

62

9

1

2

3

35

1996-97

Sweden

WC-A

10

0

6

6

16

1997-98

Leksands IF

Sweden

42

2

23

25

52

4

0

1

1

6

1997-98

Leksands IF

EuroHL

6

2

2

4

18

1998-99

Leksands IF

Sweden

48

11

24

35

70

4

1

1

2

2

1998-99

Leksands IF

EuroHL

6

4

1

5

10

2

0

0

0

2

1999-00

SC Rapperswil-Jona

Swiss

42

7

25

32

44

6

1

2

3

8

2000-01

Leksands IF

Sweden

50

4

6

10

52

2001-02

Leksands IF

Sweden-2

39

3

14

17

30

8

0

7

7

2

NHL Totals

46

4

14

18

31

Swedish World All-Star Team (1994) WC-A All-Star Team (1994) Best Defenseman at WC-A (1994)

Traded to Florida by Calgary with Robert Svehla for Florida's 3rd round pick (Dmitri Vlasenkov) in 1996 NHL Draft and cash, September 29, 1994.